BOGOTA, Colombia -- Venezuela is protesting Washington’s decision to expel three of its diplomats in a tit-for-tat purge of embassy officials that has brought relations between the countries to a standstill.
The U.S. State Department announced that it was expelling Venezuela’s Chargé d’affaires Calixto Ortega, Second Secretary Mónica Sánchez and Venezuela’s Houston onsul Marisol Gutiérrez.
The move comes after Venezuela on Monday ordered the expulsion of three U.S. officials, including the embassy’s top diplomat, amid accusations that they met with opposition leaders and were plotting to “sabotage” the economy and the electrical grid.